Mount Pearl approves rezoning for planned seniors’ housing

Mount Pearl city council has approved rezoning for a proposed seniors’ housing complex that has drawn plenty of concern from residents.The project, from Karwood Contracting, was originally a 4 1/2-storey, 42-unit building on property encompassing parts of Municipal, Delaney and Orchard avenues.

After a briefing session in April raised several concerns by the public — including the height and size of the building, an effect on property values, and an increase in traffic — Karwood modified the proposal to two two-storey buildings with a total of 26 units.

The developer held a briefing session earlier this month that drew more concerns from residents, including questions about snowclearing, snow storage and flooding potential, but Coun. Andrew Ledwell said at Tuesday’s city council meeting that council and staff reviewed the concerns and discussed the proposal at a committee-of-the-whole meeting two weeks ago.

“The committee was of the view that with the second proposal, the developer has addressed the concerns related to massing, shadowing and the impact of significant traffic by reducing the size of the development,” said Ledwell, who also said there’s evidence the proposed buildings would reduce the neighbourhood’s property values.

“At this point in the process, all we are considering is a rezoning, to allow council the opportunity to consider a development such as this, or perhaps something similar.”

The planning and development committee says even though the development is different from the surrounding single-family homes, its location and size “will not adversely affect” the surrounding neighbourhood,” said Ledwell.

Coun. Dave Aker declared a conflict of interest in the proposal as an employee of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, which is providing a subsidy to the project, and did not vote on the amendment to rezone the property from residential medium density to apartment use, which was passed by council.